K7 
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THE MUNICIPAL 



University «/ Akron 



A HISTORY of its 
ESTABLISHMENT 



AKRON, OHIO 



Form 29 



A HISTORY 

of the 

ESTABLISHMENT 

of the 
MUNICIPAL 

UNIVERSITY of AKRON 



Compiled by PfR; KOLBE 



ISSUED BY 

THE MUNICIPAL UNIVERSITY of AKRON, OHIO 

1914 



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A History of the Establishment of the 
Municipal University of Akron 



The nucleus for the Municipal University of Akron which 
began its official existence on January 1, 1914, was Buchtel 
College, an institution of higher learning founded under the 
joint auspices of an Akron citizen, John R. Buchtel, and of 
the Ohio Universalist Convention in the year 1870 (chart- 
ered May 31, 1870). The foundation of Buchtel College is 
described in the catalogue of that institution as follows : 

"Buchtel College was founded in 1870 by the Ohio Uni- 
versalist Convention and took its name from its most gener- 
ous benefactor, Hon. J. R. Buchtel, who consecrated his life 
and wealth to its support. It was chartered by the Ohio 
Legislature in the same year as a College of Liberal Arts 
and letters, and first opened its doors for the admission of 
students, in September, 1872." 

Statistics given in the catalogs of earlier years show 
that Buchtel at first drew her students largely from denomin- 
ational sources. For example, the catalog of 1883 shows 
that out of a total of 314 students (including college and 
preparatory school), 120 professed to come from Universal- 
ist families. From a total of 246 in College and Academy, 
only 88 students — 36% came from Akron. The rapid multi- 
plication of educational institutions in all parts of the country 
gradually brought about at Buchtel, as well as elsewhere, a 
falling off in the number of foreign students and a corre- 
sponding increase in local attendance. This progressed to 
such a degree that the catalog of 1912-1913 shows the 
following figures (college exclusive of academy) : total at- 
tendance, 175; from Akron 109=62%. A count of de- 



nominational preference taken during the year 1913 shows 
the following:: 



L t> 



No choice given 57 Disciple 8 

Methodist 22 Presbyterian 6 

Universalist 16 Baptist 3 

Congregational 15 Christian 3 

Episcopal 13 Jewish 2 

Catholic 12 United Brethren 2 

Reformed 11 Christian Science 1 

Lutheran 9 

Total 180 

While the character of the student body was thus grad- 
ually changing from a denominational to a local predomin- 
ance, the financial condition of the institution was far from 
encouraging. Denominational support had almost entirely 
ceased during the last decade. At the same time 
the people of Akron had never come to look upon 
the college as entirely theirs, hence ample support 
from local sources was also denied. Meanwhile, the 
constant and steady increase in the number of local 
students rendered the necessary financing of the college 
budget a more and more difficult problem for the Trustees 
and the President to solve. A local campaign inaugurated 
by President Church in 1910 netted a total of about $90,000 
in cash and pledges. It was, however, a significant fact that 
the greater part of this amount was made up of nearly 2000 
pledges and gifts of small sums from the wage earners of the 
city. This, together with an analysis of the student body, 
proved conclusively that Buchtel had become a largely local 
institution of a democratic nature furnishing for the aver- 
age citizen of Akron the only means within his power for 
the education of his children. 

The death of President Church on November 16, 1912, 
was a sad blow to the hopes which were still entertained of 
raising an endowment fund of $300,000 — hopes which were 
still further shattered by the depressed business and financial 



conditions in the city following- upon the strike and floods of 
1913. In view of all these things the newly elected Presi- 
dent, Dr. P. R. Kolbe, felt that the time had come for the 
city at large to assume the responsibility of maintaining an 
institution which was being conducted largely for the wel- 
fare of her own citizens. The provisions of the State Code 
sections 7902-7922 made such an undertaking possible and 
although the city was at that time badly hampered by the 
interior limitations of the Smith one per cent law, yet an- 
other recently enacted law exempted the municipal univer- 
sity tax (not to exceed 55 one-hundredths of a mill) from 
said restrictions and made the project feasible. At the same 
time, the splendid success of the University of Cincinnati 
proved beyond doubt the advantages to be gained from a 
municipally supported institution, offering free higher edu- 
cation to all citizens alike. 

At a meeting of the Buchtel Trustees, held on April 14, 
1913, President Kolbe laid before the Board a proposition 
to turn over to the City of Akron the entire plant and en- 
dowment of the college under certain conditions which had 
already been defined by the Executive Committee and which 
were submitted to the Board for its approval. The Board 
of Trustees consisted of the following men (those starred 
being present) : *George W. Crouse, Jr., Akron ; Arthur J. 
Saalfield, Akron; *Hon. Joseph Hidy, Cleveland; James 
Ford, Washington C. H. ; Andrew H. Noah, Akron ; *Wal- 
lace L. Carlton, Akron ; F. H. Adams, Akron ; *H. S. Fire- 
stone, Akron ; *Rev. E. G. Mason, Muncie, Ind. ; Rev. Lee 
S. McCollester, Boston, Mass.; *F. M. Cooke, Akron; *John 
R. Smith, Akron ; *Dr. A. A. Kohler, Akron ; A. H. Marks, 
Akron ; *F. A. Seiberling, Akron ; J. P. Loomis, Akron ; 
Hermon A. Kelley, Cleveland; *Charles B. Raymond, 
Akron; R. A. Clark, Pittsburgh; Will Christy, Akron; 
Judge D. A. Doyle, Akron; *W. B. Baldwin, Akron; Dr. M. 
D. Stevenson, Akron; *F. W. Albrecht, Akron; *P. R. 
Kolbe, Akron. 

Since the citizens of Akron had a short time previously 
selected a Commission for the purpose of writing a city 

5 



charter to be submitted to the electors of the city for ap- 
proval or rejection, the offer of the Buchtel Trustees was 
addressed to the Charter Commission with the idea that it 
should be incorporated as a part of the new city charter. 
After considerable discussion on the part of the Board, a 
motion was made by F. A. Seiberling and seconded by Rev. 
E. G. Mason to the effect that the following offer be made 
to the City of Akron through its Charter Commission : 

"To the Charter Commission of the City of Akron : 

"Gentlemen : — During its existence of more than forty 
years, Buchtel College has performed a most important work 
in this community, and it should be looked upon as an institu- 
tion to be permanently maintained among us. As an evi- 
dence that the college has a rightful and permanent place 
among our municipal institutions, we call attention to the 
fact that the attendance has trebled during the last de- 
cade, and that this increase is due largely to the in- 
creased attendance of local students. Unfortunately, the 
increase in our endowment has not kept pace with the 
increase in the attendance with the result that the present 
sources of income are insufficient to enable the college 
to carry on its work satisfactorily. 

"Therefore, we, the Board of Trustees of Buchtel College, 
representing the corporation in its corporate capacity, do 
offer and propose hereby, to transfer, turn over and convey 
to the City of Akron, Ohio, the entire plant and endowment 
of Buchtel College and Academy on the terms and conditions 
hereinafter set forth. We will first pay and discharge all 
the present indebtedness of the college; and the residue set 
over to the city will have a value of about $400,000, of which 
about $150,000 will be in interest producing endowment, 
but subject to a few small annuities not exceeding the sum 
of $1,845.65 per year, payable to certain donors during their 
lives, and further subject to the granting of certain free 
scholarship privileges as requested by the original donors of 
scholarship funds or their descendants. The college is now 
and has been for some years wholly free from all denomina- 

6 



tional or sectarian control and influence, and will be so turned 
over to the City of Akron. 

"This offer is conditioned as follows : 

"1. That the City of Akron will devote perpetually the 
plant and funds thus turned over to it, to the uses of a muni- 
cipal college or university, to be called the College (or Uni- 
versity) of the City of Akron, with the provision that in case 
of the development of several colleges, schools, or depart- 
ments, the department of Liberal Arts shall retain the name 
of 'Buchtel College of Liberal Arts/ thus forming a depart- 
ment of a university in the same manner as Adelbert College 
forms a part of Western Reserve University, or as McMicken 
College forms a part of the University of Cincinnati. 

"2. That the endowment fund turned over to the city 
shall be maintained as an endowment and not diverted from 
that purpose, and that only the income thereof shall be used 
for the support of the college or university. 

"3. That if a Charter be adopted for the City of Akron, 
it will provide in adequate terms, for the maintenance of the 
college or university. The present laws on the subject relat- 
ing to municipal colleges and universities as provided in 
section 7902 to 7922 of the General Code (as already suc- 
cessfully embodied and carried out by the University of 
Cincinnati) will be deemed adequate. 

"4. The charter of the city shall provide for the govern- 
ment of the institution by a separate Board of Trustees to 
be chosen and perpetuated under city control in a manner to 
be determined by you, with a provision, however, that fitting 
representation on the Board of Trustees be assured to the 
present organization of the Alumni of the College. 

"It may not be amiss to direct your attention to the fol- 
lowing matters in the consideration of the foregoing pro- 
position : 

"1. As a municipal institution, and with very slight addi- 
tion to the money which the city now expends for educational 
purposes, the college or university would offer to all qualified 
students of the City of Akron a college education with free 
tuition. 

"2. The adoption of Buchtel College as a municipal in- 
stitution will insure, on a permanent basis, the continuance of 
one of Akron's oldest and worthiest semi-public institutions. 

"3. The identification of college with city interests can 
be turned directly to practical use for the city. A bureau of 



city tests for the examination of all materials used by the 
city ; a bureau of municipal reference for collecting and filing 
information required by municipal officers, — these and many 
other functions can be established and exercised by a muni- 
cipal institution at great saving to the city. 

"4. The natural growth of the city will soon inevitably 
demand a school where her young people can be trained at 
small expense in technical branches and in the learned pro- 
fessions; — the establishment of a municipal college or uni- 
versity upon the foundation of an already tested and recog- 
nized institution will provide a most excellent beginning for 
the development of a greater municipal university. 

"The matter of the formation and adoption of a municipal 
charter being now before the people, we earnestly urge a 
serious consideration of this offer. We make it in the full 
belief that this very favorable opportunity for the foundation 
of a municipal university should not be neglected." 

The motion was discussed and the following legal opinion 
rendered by Attorney J. C. Frank (extract from minutes of 
meeting) : 

"Attorney J. C. Frank stated that he has gone over in 
detail the conditions of the various gifts of the funds now in 
the possession of the college and that he finds nothing in 
any of them to prevent the college trustees from carrying 
into effect the terms of the foregoing proposal, nor is there 
anything in any deeds of real estate given to the college to 
prevent such action — further, the laws of the state give the 
trustees power to make such a transfer of its trust and em- 
power the city to receive it." Mr. Seiberling's motion, being 
now brought to vote, was unanimously carried. 

The offer of the Buchtel Trustees was immediately made 
public through the press of the city and on April 15, 1913, 
was formally presented to the Charter Commission. The 
members of the Commission were : R. A. Myers, Walter 
Kirn, Louis Loeb, George P. Atwater, John W. Gauthier, 
E. E. Zesiger, George Maag, S. G. Rogers, Judge Doyle, 
I. S. Myers, C. F. Beery, M. O'Neil, D. S. Bowman, D. C. 
Rybolt and O. E. Olin. 



The commission, while almost unanimously favorable to 
the acceptance of the offer, was somewhat in doubt regard- 
ing the following points : 

(a) Had the Charter Commission the right to incorporate 
a specific proposal of this nature in the Charter or only the 
right to provide organic law for the government of a muni- 
cipal university, if one were established ? 

(b) In how far was it desirable to unite two such sepa- 
rate issues as the acceptance of a city charter and the estab- 
lishment of a municipal university? 

(c) Had the commission the right to make any provisions 
for the government of a municipal university other than 
those of the State Code ? 

After a consideration of the matter which extended over 
a period of several weeks, it was finally deemed best to refer 
the matter with a favorable recommendation to the Akron 
City Council. Accordingly the committee of the Charter 
Commission (Olin, Doyle, I. S. Myers) on May 14 were 
instructed to communicate with the Council. The following 
letter resulted : 

"We, the Charter Commission of the City of Akron, do 
most heartily endorse the project of a municipal university 
and recommend to our fellow citizens the acceptance of the 
offer of the Trustees of Buchtel College. We feel that the 
passage of a measure of such importance should not be de- 
pendent on the passage of the proposed city charter and that 
two such widely divergent subjects should be separately ap- 
proved or rejected by the people. Since we are not em- 
powered by law to propose any measure to be voted on sep- 
arately and independently of the charter, we do, therefore, 
in order to secure immediate consideration for the offer of 
the Buchtel Trustees, recommend to the Council of the City 
of Akron either : 

1. That they accept the offer of the Trustees of Buchtel 
College by ordinance as provided by the State Code and 
provide at once for the support of the municipal university 
(the citizens having, of course, the right of referendum on 
this action) or 

9 



2. That they provide for the submitting of the Buchtel 
offer to the vote of the people." 

Meanwhile, in order to provide for the future of the muni- 
cipal university in case of the acceptance of the charter, the 
following provision was introduced into said charter* as 
section 64. 

"Section 64. Municipal College or University. The power 
to establish, govern, conduct and control a municipal college 
or university may be exercised in the manner provided in 
this section. Such institution may be established by ordi- 
nance passed by the council, or by ordinance proposed by 
initiative petition as provided in this charter and approved by 
a majority of the electors of the city voting upon the same. 
If such institution shall be established, the ordinance estab- 
lishing the same shall provide that the same shall be gov- 
erned, conducted and controlled by a board of nine directors, 
consisting of the president of the institution, who shall be ex- 
officio a director thereof, and eight electors of the city ap- 
pointed by the mayor, two thereof for a term of two years, 
two thereof for a term of four years, two thereof for a term 
of six years, and two thereof for a term of eight years. 
Thereafter, as the terms of directors expire, the mayor shall 
appoint successors to such directors for terms of eight years 
each, and shall fill all vacancies in said board. Such direc- 
tors shall serve without compensation, and shall have all the 
powers and perform all the duties conferred or required by 
law in the government of such institution and the execution 
of any trust with respect thereto imposed upon such institu- 
tion. The ordinance establishing such institution shall pre- 
scribe the terms and conditions of acceptance of any gift or 
grant of buildings, lands, securities, endowment funds, and 
other property of whatsoever nature that may be made to the 
city or to the board of directors of such institution for the 
purpose of establishing, supporting and equipping such in- 
stitution. Any ordinance of the nature mentioned in this 



*The charter was defeated on August 28 by the close margin of 
91 votes. 



10 



section that may be passed by the council shall be subject to 
the referendum provided in this charter." 

In order to show continued interest in the municipal uni- 
versity project and to aid the work of the city council, the 
chairman of the Charter Commission on May 21, at the in- 
struction of the Commissioners appointed a committee of six 
citizens to answer four questions regarding the establishment 
of a municipal university. These citizens who were chosen 
for their experience in municipal affairs were : James Shaw, 
Chairman Finance Committee of the City Council; Albert 
C. Esch, Socialist member of City Council ; James McCaus- 
land, City Auditor; J. Edward Good, President Akron 
Chamber of Commerce; John C. Moore, County Auditor; 
Ed. S. Shatzer, member Central Labor Union. 

The following are the four questions which the Citizens' 
Committee was asked to consider : 

1. Can the proposed levy for the municipal university be 
incorporated in the tax duplicate under present tax laws 
(beginning in 1914) without taking needed funds from the 
city departments or the Board of Education ? 

2. Is the expense of maintaining a municipal university 
likely to prove a burden to the city in coming years ? 

3. What will be the maximum cost to the taxpayer of 
maintaining a city university ? 

4. What advantages can the city hope to receive from a 
municipal university in the matter of co-operation with the 
city departments? 

The Citizens' Committee, who felt that the final decision 
of the whole matter would probably be made in accordance 
with their report, spent two* months in careful consideration 
of the whole situation. Numerous meetings were held and 
the entire condition of the city's finances was reviewed. The 
result showed that while the municipality was carrying a 
heavy bonded indebtedness and would have great difficulty 
in raising sufficient money by taxation for the running ex- 
penses of 1914, yet this condition was due solely to the in- 
ternal limitation of the Smith one per cent tax law, which 
made the maximum sum of all taxes, which could be raised 
within the city, so small as seriously to hamper every depart- 

11 



ment. However, by a recent enactment of the State Legisla- 
ture, the Gregory law allowed the university levy to be over 
and above the interior limitations of the Smith law, hence, 
money might be levid for university purposes, and for uni- 
versity purposes alone, in excess of the regular levy without 
any effect whatsoever on other city departments. Therefore, 
the committee, after due deliberation, returned the follow- 
ing answer to the Charter Commission, the Council having 
meanwhile delayed action, awaiting the report of. the com- 
mittee : 

To the Akion Charter Commission : 

Gentlemen: — In your letter of May 22d to Mr. James 
Shaw, chairman of the Finance Committee of the City Coun- 
cil, you stated that, by resolution, you had authorized the ap- 
pointment of a committee of six citizens to investigate and 
report on certain questions relating to the establishment and 
maintenance of a municipal university. The following are 
the questions : 

1. Can the proposed levy for the municipal university be 
incorporated in the tax duplicate under the present tax laws 
(beginning in 1914) without taking needed funds from the 
city departments or the Board of Education ? 

2. Is the expense of maintaining a municipal university 
likely to prove a burden to the city in coming years ? 

3. What will be the maximum cost to the taxpayer of 
maintaining a city university ? 

4. What advantages can the city hope to receive from a 
municipal university in the matter of co-operation with the 
city departments ? 

After mature and careful investigation and deliberation, 

we are pleased to report to you as follows : 

1. There is a state law which permits a levy of fifty-five 
one-hundredths of a mill for municipal university purposes 
only. Money thus raised cannot be used for any other pur- 
poses. Therefore, the proposed levy can be incorporated. 

2. We believe that money expended for education is the 
best investment which any community can make — therefore 
should not be considered a burden. 

3. The maximum cost to the taxpayer of maintaining a 
city university cannot exceed fifty-five one-hundredths of a 

12 



mill — which means fifty-five cents for a thousand dollars 
appraised property valuation. 

4. The advantages which a city can hope to derive from a 
municipal university are almost unlimited. Based on the 
experience of the University of Cincinnati, we cite a few ad- 
vantages as follows : 

a. The University professors do all the chemical and 
microscopic work for the City Hospital, having charge of 
its laboratory. 

b. The University does all the analyzing and testing for 
the Engineering, the Purchasing and other departments of 
the city. 

c. The University co-operates with the City Engineers 
Department. The students serve there as assistants under 
the co-operative system, working part of the time on city 
work and studying part of the time at the University. 

d. The professors in the Engineering College serve as 
experts in connection with Water Works problems, Street 
Car problems, and Telephone problems. The Dean of the 
College was recently appointed chairman of the Board of 
Arbitration between the Street Car men and the Company. 

e. The Academic Department trains new teachers for 
the city schools and gives classes afternoons and Saturdays 
for the present teachers. In six years the University has 
supplied 189 new teachers and taught 643 old ones. The 
Faculty of the Teachers' College acts as an expert Board of 
Advisors for the Board of Education whenever called upon. 

f. The Department of Psychology spends much time in 
testing backward and defective pupils in the City Public 
Schools. This has led to the establishment of a small special 
school for defectives — a kind of educational hospital — which 
does splendid work in saving children from being turned 
down as idiots and incompetents. 

g. The Department of Political Science maintains a 
Municipal Reference Library, an office conducted by the 
University at the City Hall, to collect information about all 
sorts of municipal affairs and city problems and supply that 
information to the committees of the council or city officials. 

h. Other departments co-operate in matters of taxation, 
census taking, collection of historical information, civil serv- 
ice examinations, etc. 

As a result of our investigation, extending over two 

months' time, we unanimously recommend that the Akron 
City Council be requested to accept Buchtel College as the 

13 



nucleus for a Municipal University, for the benefit of Akron, 
or provide for submitting the question of accepting this offer 
to the electors of the City of Akron. 

James Shaw, Chairman. 
Albert C. Esch, 
James McCausland, 
J. Edward Good, 
John C. Moore, 
Ed. S. Shatzer. . 
The effect of this report was to remove the last shreds of 
doubt which might still have existed in the City Council 
concerning the possibility of accepting the offer. Two 
courses now apparently lay open : either to accept the offer 
of the Buchtel Trustees by ordinance and establish a munici- 
pal university, or to ask for an expression from the voters of 
the city at the coming primary election. The Council deemed 
it prudent to follow the latter course and accordingly on 
July 28, 1913, under suspension of rules, passed the follow- 
ing ordinance : 

Resolution No. 3995 to provide for the submission to the 
vote of the electors of the question, "Shall Buchtel College 
be accepted by the City of Akron ?" 

Whereas, The Board of Trustees of Buchtel College, rep- 
resenting the corporation in its corporate capacity, has 
offered to transfer, turn over and convey to the City of 
Akron for use as a municipal college or university the entire 
plant and endowment of Buchtel College and the Academy, 
and 

Whereas, The Council of the City of Akron desires to be 
advised by the electors of the city as to their wishes in the 
matter of accepting said gift for such use, and 

Whereas, It is the intention of the Council to accept said 
property for such use provided a majority of the electors 
voting thereon are in favor thereof*, now therefore, 



*Objection was raised to this paragraph by Mr. Whittemore on 
the ground that the council should not yet so definitely commit 
itself to any line of action. The paragraph was therefore stricken 
out. 

14 



Be it Resolved, By the Council of the City of Akron, State 
of Ohio. 

Section 1. That the question, "Shall Buchtel College be 
accepted by the City of Akron ?" be and it is hereby ordered 
to be submitted to the vote of the qualified electors of the 
City of Akron, at the primary election to be held on Tuesday, 
September 2, 1913, at the regular places of voting at general 
elections of said City, between the hours of 5 :30 A. M. and 
5 :30 P. M. 

Sec. 2. That the question provided by Section 1 of this 
resolution to be submitted, shall be printed upon ballots and 
shall be submitted in the following form, "Shall Buchtel 
College be accepted by the City of Akron ?" that immediately 
below the said question the word "Yes" and the word "No" 
shall be printed in separate spaces upon said ballot with 
enclosed blank spaces to the left of each word "Yes" and 
"No," and those who are in favor of the acceptance of the 
said College shall place a cross mark before the word "Yes" 
and those who are opposed to the acceptance of the said Col- 
lege shall place a cross mark before the word "No." 

Sec 3. The ballots and ballot boxes for the said election 
shall be provided and the votes counted and returned and 
the election conducted in the manner provided by law for 
the conduct and control of general municipal elections. 

Sec. 4. That the clerk of the council be and he is hereby 
ordered to transmit to the Board of Deputy State Super- 
visors of Elections of Summit County within three days 
after the passage thereof a certified copy of this resolution. 

Sec. 5. This resolution shall take effect and be in force 
from and after its passage. 

Passed July 28, 1913. 

Ira A. Priest, George C. Jackson, 

Clerk of Council. President of Council. 

Approved July 29, 1913. 

Frank W. Rockwell, Mayor. 

The Board of Elections, upon passage of the above ordi- 
nance, immediately questioned its legality and referred the 
matter to Secretary of State Graves at Columbus for de- 
cision. Secretary Graves within a short time rendered an 
adverse decision, holding that the ordinance was illegal, 
since it would necessitate expenditure of money by the Board 
of Elections. Such expenditure, he pointed out, could be 

15 



legally made only on initiative petition of a sufficient num- 
ber of voters of the city. 

The City Council now found itself face to face with the 
necessity either of accepting the Buchtel offer by ordinance 
or of finally rejecting it. The Council at this time was com- 
posed of the following members : President George Jackson, 
Councilmen Vance, Shaw, Stauffer, Hower, Esch, Moewe, 
Akers, Weld, Whittemore, Jeffers and Cranz. At a regular 
meeting held on August 25, 1913, Councilman Cranz pre- 
sented the following ordinance: (This ordinance contains 
the text of the new offer to the City Council authorized by 
the Executive Committee of the Buchtel Trustees on August 
15, 1913.) 

Ordinance No. 4050, accepting the offer of the Trustees 
of Buchtel College to transfer and convey the entire prop- 
erty, assets and endowments of said college to the City of 
Akron for a municipal university. 

Whereas, the Board of Trustees of Buchtel College has 
made an offer to the Council of the City of Akron to trans- 
fer, turn over and convey to the City of Akron the entire 
property and plant and endowment of Buchtel College and 
Academy for the purposes and upon the conditions named in 
said offer, which is as follows : 

To the City Council of the City of Akron : 

Gentlemen : — The Board of Trustees of Buchtel College, 
representing the corporation in its corporate capacity, does 
hereby offer and propose to transfer, turn over and convey 
to the City of Akron, the entire property, plant and endow- 
ment of Buchtel College and Academy, for the purposes and 
on the conditions following, viz : 

First. That the City of Akron will devote perpetually the 
funds and plant thus turned over to it, to the uses of a muni- 
cipal college or university to be called the College (or Uni- 
versity) of Akron, with the understanding, that in case of 
the development of several colleges, schools or departments, 
the department of Liberal Arts shall retain the name of 
"Buchtel College of Liberal Arts." 

16 



Second. That the city will provide for the maintenance 
and growth of the institution within such limits as may be 
provided for by law. 

Third. That the government of the institution shall bt 
under the control of a separate board of trustees to be chosen 
and perpetuated by municipal authority in such manner as 
may be now or hereafter provided by law, with a provision, 
however, if the law permit, that fitting representation on the 
board of trustees be assured to the alumni. 

A detailed schedule of the present property and assets of 

Buchtel College is herewith submitted. It will be observed 
that the property is subject to certain annuities aggregating 
the sum of $1,845.65 annually, as shown in Schedule H ; and 
that the College has certain outstanding Scholarships as 
shown in Schedule I. All other encumbrances, and all out- 
standing obligations of the College will be discharged by the 
present Board of Trustees from such of the personal property 
scheduled as may be first available, so that the net residue 
will come to the City free of debt and unencumbered save as 
to the annuities and scholarships aforesaid. 

Akron, Ohio, August 20, 1913. 

The Board of Trustees of Buchtel College, 

by Parke R. Kolbe, President. 

And Whereas, said Board of Trustees of Buchtel College 
has submitted with the aforesaid offer a detailed schedule of 
the property and assets of Buchtel College, and 

Whereas, Council of the City of Akron is desirous of ac- 
cepting the said offer upon the terms and conditions named 
therein for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a 
municipal university to be known by the name of the Uni- 
versity of Akron, now therefore, 

Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Akron, State 
of Ohio, two-thirds of all the members elected thereto con- 
curring : 

Section 1. That the said offer of the Trustees of Buchtel 
College to transfer, turn over and convey to the City of 
Akron the entire property, plant and endowment of Buchtel 
College as shown by the schedule attached to and made a 
part of said offer, be and the same hereby is accepted upon 
the terms and conditions named in the said offer. 

17 



Sec 2. That the entire property, plant and endowment of 
Buchtel College so to be transferred and conveyed to the 
City of Akron, shall be used for the purpose of establishing 
and maintaining a municipal university. 

Sec. 3. That the Mayor and Solicitor be and they are 
hereby instructed to examine, approve and receive all the 
necessary deeds, conveyances and other instruments neces- 
sary to receive and perfect the title to said property in the 
City of Akron and to do any and all other acts and things 
necessary and proper to be done in the premises. 

S^c. 4. This ordinance shall be in force and take effect 
from and after the earliest period allowed by law. 

Passed August 25, 1913. 

Ira A. Priest, Geo. C. Jackson, 

Clerk of Council. President of Council. 

Approved August 26, 1913. 

Frank W. Rockwell, Mayor. 

This ordinance was immediately passed by unanimous vote 
under suspension of rules, Councilmen Vance and Whitte- 
more being absent. During the same session the following 
ordinance was passed to provide support for the new 
municipal university : 

Ordinance No. 4039. To Levy Tax for Municipal Uni- 
versity. 

To levy a tax in addition to the maximum rate of taxes 
for all other purposes for the support of the Municipal Uni- 
versity. 

Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Akron, State 
of Ohio, two-thirds of all the members elected thereto con- 
curring : 

Section 1. That it is deemed necessary and expedient to 
levy a tax of five-tenths of one mill for a period of one year 
upon all the taxable property of the City of Akron, State of 
Ohio, in addition to the maximum rate of taxes authorized 
by sections 5649-2 and 5649-3 of the General Code of Ohio, 
for the support of a municipal university. 

Sec. 2. That there is hereby levied upon all the taxable 
property of the City of Akron, State of Ohio, a tax of five- 
tenths of one mill for a period of one year for the support 
of a municipal university, and that said tax of five-tenths of 

18 



one mill is in addition to the maximum rate authorized by 
sections 5649-2 and 5649-3 of the General Code of Ohio. 

Sec. 3. That the City Auditor be and he is hereby directed 
to place the tax so levied upon the books of the corporation 
for collection and to certify the same to the County Auditor 
for collection and to perform all other acts and things neces- 
sary in the premises. 

SEC 4. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 
from and after the earliest period allowed by law. 

Passed August 25, 1913. 

Ira A. Priest, Geo. C. Jackson, 

Clerk of Council. President of Council. 

Approved August 26, 1913. 

Frank W. RockwEEE, Mayor. 

These ordinances were duly signed by Mayor Rockwell 
and on Sptember 24, when the thirty days required by law 
had passed, no referendum having been called for, the or- 
dinance became valid and the municipal university was as- 
sured. 

On November 24, 1913, Mayor Rockwell made public the 
names of the men whom he intended to appoint as the first 
Board of Directors of the Municipal University. Although 
the property of the College had not as yet been formally 
turned over to the city and hence no legal appointments 
could be made, such advance indication of the personnel of 
the Board was deemed necessary, so that all preliminary ar- 
rangements might be made for the formal taking over of the 
College. The following men were appointed by the Mayor 
as Directors of the Municipal University : 

t*P. R. Kolbe, President of Buchtel College. 

f J. P. Loomis, President, Akron Coal Co. 

t*W. B. Baldwin, Postmaster. 

t F. A. Seiberling, President, Goodyear Tire & "Rubber 
Co. 

tM. D. Stevenson, Physician. 

t*F. M. Cooke, Sec, Bruner-Goodhue-Cooke-Cranz 
Agency. 

t*A. A. Kohler, Health Officer. 

*C. C. Carlton, Dept. Manager, Firestone Tire & Rub- 
ber Co. 

*W. A. Putt, Salesman. 

*Alumnus of Buchtel College. 

t Member of Board of Trustees of Buchtel College. 

19 



On December first, President Kolbe and Secretary Olin, 
acting for the Trustees of Buchtel College signed the deed by 
which all the real property of the College in Summit Co., in- 
cluding buildings, campus, athletic field, etc., was turned 
over to the city. Further transfers of real estate outside of 
Summit Co. were made a few days later and on December 13 
these deeds were formally accepted by Mayor Rockwell and 
City Solicitor Taylor in behalf of the city. On December 
15, Mayor Rockwell certified to City Auditor McCausland 
the appointments of the men already mentioned as members 
of the Board of Directors*, thus completing the establish- 
ment of the Municipal University of Akron. 



Editorial Comment on Buchtel's Offer 

to the City of Akron 

Forecasting the City College 

(From the Christian Science Monitor) 

As financial and pedagogical problems multiply for admin- 
istrators and alumni of colleges, where the main obstacles 
they have to overcome are a state-supported university and a 
diminishing sectarian loyalty, will the way out be that pro- 
posed by the trustees of Buchtel College, founded by Univer- 
salists ? They proffer to the city of Akron, Ohio, plant and 
endowment and all, the only stipulation being that the future 
city college if it ever attains a university rank, shall let its 
department of liberal arts bear the name of Buchtel. Un- 
doubtedly, the success of the University of Cincinnati is 
the crown of the democratic system of education in that 



*The new Board held its first regular meeting in the Library of 
the Knight Chemical Laboratory on December 17. P. R. Kolbe was 
elected Chairman of the Board and President of the University and 
C. R. Olin was chosen as Clerk of the Board and Secretary of the 
University. Standing Committees were appointed as follows: 
Finance: Baldwin, Loomis, Stevenson; Buildings and Grounds: 
Carlton, Kolbe, Putt; Funds and Investments: Cooke, Seiberling 
Kohler. 

20 



urban community is having its effect throughout Ohio and 
beyond, and has prompted this way out of a dilemma to the 
Buchtel trustees. Lacking neither students nor plant, but 
only endowment; and seeing no chance of getting it in an 
adequate way from the constituency originally responsible 
for the college, the trustees frankly turn to society itself 
with all its many faiths and creeds but lacking in an official 
one, and say to it, "Take from us what sectarian generosity 
has made possible, and use it for more democratic and 
enduring ends than our resources ever can provide." The 
answer of Akron to the proffer will be worth watching for. 

With the high schools in some sections of the country, 
especially on the Pacific Coast, planning to cover in the 
future much of the work now done by college freshmen and 
sophomores, with the state universities steadily unfolding 
and creating a vocational system of education that appeals 
to many parents and youth with much force, and with social 
and political policies of the nation emphasizing economic 
rather than intellectual or spiritual aspects of life, it is not 
surprising to learn that the small American college with 
its cultural traditions and ideals, is not living under a cloud- 
less sky. 

There are two ways out, one that of the trustees of Buchtel 
and the other that of the trustees of Amherst College. The 
latter frankly and squarely have put the institution on the 
cultural basis and welcome only students so qualified and 
aspiring. A qualitative rather than quantitative ideal has 
been set up, and an effort is to be made to retain the American 
college true to its original type in distinction from a hybrid 
with part of its parentage in Europe. 

A University of Akron 

(From the Cleveland Plain Dealer) 
Akron has a charter commission and expects to adopt 
soon a home-made form of government. Among the sugges- 
tions made to the charter writers is one that Buchtel College 
be made a city university. And, strangely enough, the sug- 
gestion comes from Buchtel itself upon a vote of its trustees. 

21 



It is represented that Akron would derive the same ad- 
vantage through possession and utilization of Buchtel as 
Cincinnati does through having the university which bears 
her name. Buchtel is essentially local in character, is a 
thriving, promising institution and in partnership with the 
city government might very largely increase its usefulness. 

The idea seems excellent and needs no explanation in 
Cleveland, for a similar proposal in ve Terence to our own 
Reserve and Case has already been discussed. The plan has 
vast possibilities and within the next few years will in all 
probability be widely adopted. What the University of Wis- 
consin is to Wisconsin, what the Ohio State University will 
become to Ohio if Governor Cox has his way, some com- 
petent, well equipped college or university should be to every 
important city in the land. 

Akron has an opportunity which should not be lightly 
ignored. She may point the way for Cleveland. 

Sentiment vs. Facts 

(From The Akron Times) 

Forty-one years ago John R. Buchtel made possible the 
founding of Buchtel College in Akron. During the course 
of these years Buchtel has graduated nearly 500 students, 
while her list of those who never completed a full course runs 
well into the thousands. The long and honorable traditions 
of more than forty years are not easily nor thoughtlessly to 
be destroyed. Akron's oldest inhabitants — those who stood 
on Buchtel Campus with Horace Greeley in the historic days 
of the early seventies — will naturally feel a shrinking from 
the proposed change of Buchtel College to the University of 
Akron. And yet, what are the facts in the history of Akron's 
collegiate institution ? 

Founded with the unanimous consent and willing co-opera- 
tion of Akron's earlier citizens of wealth and influence, 
Buchtel has been forced to see her original supporters called 
away, one by one, from the scene of their activities. A glance 

22 



at the list of Buchtel's earlier trustees reveals the names of 
John R. Buchtel, Geo. T. Perkins, Geo. W. Crouse, Newell 
D. Tibbals and many other men who moulded the earlier 
business activities of our city. Other colleges have had the 
resources of old and wealthy religious denominations for 
support. Buchtel has been forced to struggle on with but 
inadequate financial backing. 

With the passing of the older generation a new era has 
come to Akron. New industries have sprung up — new faces 
and new names rule the prosperity and wealth of our city. 
To these new conditions Buchtel has sought to adapt herself. 
Unfortunately, Akron's "mighty men" of the present day 
have not seen fit to shoulder the burden laid down by their 
predecessors. Most of the support given to Buchtel during 
recent years has come from the "great middle class." Most 
of Buchtel's constantly growing student body is recruited 
from the rank and file of Akron's citizenship. More and 
more has Buchtel been developing into the typical "city col- 
lege," into the democratic institution where the child of the 
poor man may receive a college education at a minimum of 
cost. 

And now, finally, the turning point in the road has been 
reached. It is no longer a question of sentiment as to 
whether Akron will support a "Buchtel College" or a "Uni- 
versity of Akron" — rather it is a question as to whether the 
citizens of Akron will choose to support in their midst a col- 
lege where their sons and daughters may receive a free 
education or whether they will consent to deprive themselves 
entirely of a college in their city. For no one doubts that 
Buchtel MUST and SHOULD have the adequate support 
which her growth renders necessary and without which her 
further continuance is impossible. 

The name and associations of Founder and Alumni will 
be well preserved in the retention of the name "Buchtel 
College of Liberal Arts," as a department of the greater 
"University of Akron." Let the great mass of Akron citi- 
zens now stand together and claim firmly what has long since 

23 



been theirs. Let Akron be a pioneer in the great coming era 
of municipal universities. Let Buchtel become the capstone 
of our great school system. 

Long live the University of Akron ! 

An Example for Cleveland 

(From The Cleveland Plain Dealer) 

Buchtel College at Akron went out of existence and the 
University of Akron came into being with appropriate exer- 
cises Tuesday evening of this week. Property and good will 
were turned over to representatives of the municipality and 
various plans for the betterment of the newly-born institu- 
tion were announced. 

On several occasions the Plain Dealer has discussed the 
question which the people of Akron were considering, as to 
whether that city should assume control af the very creditable 
college which was willing to surrender its identity and be- 
come an educational agency of the municipality. With such 
comment was offered the hope that some day Cleveland 
voters would be passing upon a similar question looking to 
the establishment of a University of Cleveland. 

One of the first acts of the Akron Trustees was to abolish 
the position of City Chemist, transferring its activities to a 
department of the university. Another was to establish a 
bureau of research to train men for municipal work, and a 
department of th university. Another was to establish a 

These announced plans indicate the relationship which 
naturally develop between a municipality and a municipal 
university. Cincinnati knows what it means. 

The trend of sentiment toward a University of Cleveland 
was indicated at the Western Reserve gathering the other 
night when both President Thwing and Mayor Baker spoke, 
one upon the responsibility the university owes the munici- 
pality and the other upon the coming day when city and uni- 
versity will become one in fact as they are now in spirit. 
These are promising signs. 

24 



City University and Opportunity 

By Dr. P. R. Kouje. 

President City University of Akron 

From The Akron Times, (Jan. 1, 1914) 

I have been asked to make a prophecy as to what the new 
year of 1914 may bring to the Municipal University of 
Akron. I should prefer to try to forecast what the next five 
years may bring. Plans for 1914 have already been outlined 
and published through the medium of the papers, so that a 
recapitulation may be sufficient. The new board of directors 
see themselves face to face with so many opportunities for 
making the Municipal University an instrument of usefulness 
to the city, that their duty consists largely of choosing the 
more immediate and obvious means of service. 

Two great classes of obligation must be kept in mind — 
first, that to the young men and women of the city — second, 
that to the remainder of the community at large. The first 
obligation has been met for 1914 by the proposed establish- 
ment of two new colleges or schools as units of the municipal 
university — the college of Co-operative Engineering and the 
School of Household Arts. Both will be ready to receive an 
entering class in September, 1914. The second obligation — 
that to the city itself, presents problems somewhat beyond 
the lines of the ordinary institution of higher education. 
Here lies the opportunity for forging that great link which 
should and must bind the Municipal University to the city 
which supports it. As a first step in civic co-operation, the 
directors of the university have undertaken the entire test- 
ing work of the city — chemical, bacteriological and physical. 
Many other plans are awaiting time and resources for their 
development. A night school should be established, a bureau 
for industrial research in chemistry could, at small individual 
cost, help solve the problems of the small manufacturer whose 
business does not warrant the employment of a chemist. Co- 
operation with the Board of Education might take the form 
of a Teachers' College, where High school graduates could 

25 



combine college and normal instruction in a four years' 
course with the double reward of a college degree and a 
practical training for actual teaching work. The City Coun- 
cil, the Public Library Board and the university should co- 
operate to establish a municipal reference bureau in charge 
of an expert in civic science. An arrangement is already 
being planned by the university with the Charity Organiza- 
tion and the Board of Health by which students in the De- 
partment of Sociology will make a complete survey of hous- 
ing conditions throughout the city, the results of which will 
be of practical service to the Board of Health and the build- 
ing inspector's office. These are but a few of the ways in 
which education, in its modern form and application, may 
pass beyond the individual student to help in the practical 
service of mankind. 

For the attainment of all these ends, but one thing is of 
real importance — men ! — men of thorough education and 
liberal minds, men of broad training and advanced thought, 
men whose ideas will not be bounded by what has been done, 
but by what can be done. Beyond the actual provision of 
adequate facilities for work, it is, to my mind, quite unim- 
portant whether the University of Akron blossom forth at 
once into splendid buildings or not. The greatest technical 
school in America carries on its work in dull factory-like 
barracks. The greatest university in Europe proves a dis- 
appointing sight to the graduate of the average middle wes- 
tern college ; but the faculties — the men of these institutions, 
contribute more to human progress than all the millions of 
dollars' worth of elaborate university equipment on the 
American continent. 

The Municipal University of Akron should spare neither 
trouble nor cost in retaining for her service the best men in 
the land. The great City of Akron, with all her promise of 
development and growth to come, must not merely be served 
by her university — she must be well served. 



26 



The City Mind and the Municipal 
University 

by R£v. dr. abram simon of Washington, D. C. 

Before the Alumni Association of Buchtel College, Akron, Ohio, June 18, 1913, in 
connection with the proposal to turn over Buchtel College to the City of Akron 
and make it a Municipal College. 

I shall find it convenient to present the proposition for 
the Municipal University under the title, "The City-Mind." 
The mere title suggests at once that we have entered upon 
an era of municipal psychology. It is not the psychology of 
a mob or of a mere organism. It is the psychology of a con- 
scious and a purposeful organization, functioning towards 
an intelligent destiny. The City-Mind is the rational and 
righteous response of a community to its increasing and 
progressive needs. It implies a training of its citizens to 
think and act in terms of city welfare. It expects its citizens 
to be "city-wise." It presupposes that the people have a city 
sense. This city-consciousness is not narrowed by geograph- 
ical limits ; it is not inimical to the wider interests of State 
and Federal obligations. The city is, after all, the nation's 
grammar school for the study of patriotism. The city's 
highest task is to make citizenship ethical and dynamic. 

Our query, then, is, "Are we wholly satisfied with the 
manifestations and activities of the City-Mind? Are we 
wholly satisfied with the civic training of our youth ? Is the 
corporate conscience dependable? Have we fully educated 
our people to think and act in terms of city welfare?' 

Idle flattery lulls us often into the belief that we have 
solved the problem of the city. Even a casual glance at the 
daily press soon dispels any illusion on which we may have 
cushioned our slumbering conscience. Nor will we spend 
any time now in analyzing this anomalous condition of in- 
efficiency. Having set before ourselves a specific problem, we 
shall not permit ourselves to be drawn from its main road by 
the allurements of its inviting side-paths. We believe that, 
in a Republic of such lavish opportunities, there is no excuse 
for any inferior thinking or disloyal conduct. The greater 

27 



the Democracy the higher is the demand it makes on personal 
and civic righteousness. 'Noblesse Oblige' has especial ap- 
plication in a Republic like ours which, while it levels up- 
ward, gives a new interpretation to nobility and obligation. 
The era of cities is upon us. Within the lifetime of all 
of us America has come to enfold a thousand miniature re- 
publics in one. We dare not stop to consider the multiplex 
causes which are responsible for the unprecedented increase 
in the number and size of our cities. America is rushing 
headlong into cities, much to the disadvantage of the rural 
population. But like it or not, the tendency city-ward can- 
not be checked. The city-problem has thus grown embar- 
rassingly complex. 

Every city is a cross-section, as it were, of the heart of 
the Nation. Here the pulse-beats of democratic life can be 
counted with exactness ; here a diagnosis can be made, and 
a prognosis divined. The civic physician insists that a na- 
tion is sound in proportion to the virility of its municipal- 
ities. Because a city is the intensest unit of self-government, 
it becomes the thermometer of political health. Here vice 
and virtue have their playgrounds. School and brothel elbow 
each other. Disease-festering alleys intersect sun-streamed 
avenues. Upward pulling forces are in a tug of war with 
downward dragging forces. Here the Upas tree of greed 
and graft spreads its hideous foliage beside the Liberty Tree 
of loyalty, courage and patriotism. Here is the man who 
lives for his country, shouldering the man who lives off his 
country. Here is the vast population of swarming youth, 
pouring from shop and store. Are they to add to the lawless, 
the criminal, the inefficient population ; or are they to be suc- 
cessfully trained to self-mastery and civic righteousness? 
What vast crude material ! What conditions of shame ! 
What opportunities for constructive labor, social uplift, civic 
transformation ! Evidently, then, the City-Mind is not at 
its best. Evidently, then, the City-Mind needs a school and 
a schooling adequate to its increasing dignity! 

28 



What constitutes the form and activity of this civic mind ? 
Is it merely its fine sweep of carpeted knolls, or ample boul- 
evards or bordering rivers? Is it merely its busy life of 
shop and factory, of store and bank, its rush of cars and 
streams of vehicles, its overhead wires throbbing with elec- 
tric messages of hope or fear? Is it merely its stately insti- 
tutions of justice, its homes of mercy, its gracious parks, its 
public press, museums, libraries, towering churches, and be- 
neficent hospitals? Is it merely its material evidences of 
civic life, of police and fire protection, of health and food 
vigilance? Or is it rather the men and women who are 
behind these multiform activities, whose civic pride and pub- 
lic spirit are in constant evidence, whose unselfish devotion 
to the public weal and zeal for righteousness are making 
their city a joy to live in ? Is not community living the high- 
est of the arts of peace ? Is it not true that a sensitive, civic 
conscience is the greatest asset of any city ? 

The motive force making for such a civic appreciation is 
public education. Our Democracy has set its greatest store 
by the education of its youth. I believe that the Public 
School has made good, and I also believe that it can do bet- 
ter. The tremendous industrial upheaval in our land is not 
calling for a new public school system, but for a new view- 
point. Public education must open its windows upon LiFE. 
It must train essentially for American life and American 
citizenship. The nation calls upon each city to strengthen 
its school system for the ethical and patriotic cultivation of 
the City-Mind. 

Compulsory education and The Child Labor Movement 
will yet find the entire boyhood and girlhood of the nation 
at school. It is instructive to note that of the 4,111,245 chil- 
dren who entered the first grade of the elementary school in 
1902, only 25 per cent or 972,011 were in the Eighth Grade 
in 1909. What has become of this remaining 75 per cent 
who dropped out in the intervening seven years? As we 
proceed in our educational system we reach the surprising 
fact that of this 25 per cent only 502,577 enrolled in the first 
year High School. This means that 12.5 per cent of the 

29 



number enrolled in the first grade in 1902 entered the first 
year of the High School in 1910. Of these High School be- 
ginners approximately 39 per cent will graduate in 1914. 
We see at once what an alarming number of our children 
do not or cannot get the advantages of a High School 
training! If the great majority are compelled to join the 
earning classes, every city in a Democracy ought to create 
additional opportunities at night for those who crave to 
seize them. If the voluntary sacrifice of continued education 
is rather due to the uninterestingness of the curriculum, an- 
other serious task is thrown upon the educational authorities 
of a city. These hundreds of thousands thus thrown into 
the vortex of our whirling life can scarcely be expected to 
hold their equilibrium. Can these be expected to contribute 
much to the development of the Civic-Mind ? 

Proceeding a step further we mount the next highest rung 
of our educational ladder. How many of the High School 
graduates will enter the college, professional or normal 
school? The National Bureau of Education believes that 
fifty per cent will avail themselves of College opportunities. 
Where will these students go for their studies, what will 
be the average cost per year to them, and what will they 
give in turn to the cities whence they come, are very vital 
and pertinent questions. As a rule, each city of average 
size provides fairly well for the grammar and high school 
courses. And right here its educational program comes to 
an inglorious halt. Why does a city or why should a city 
permit such a break in its scheme of training its children to 
an appreciation of their duties as citizens ? Why should not 
the surest and broadest foundations of a liberal and technical 
education be laid, upon which the youth may build a moral 
and civic structure of greatest service to himself and the 
state? Why should a municipality feel its duty complete 
when it turns its youth out into the world at the age of 
eighteen either to earn a livelihood at home or to seek higher 
education elsewhere ? To be sure, the answer will come that 
such a continuous system of education is too expensive and 

30 



that a University education is, after all, a personal problem. 
Is this not a narrow and an uncivic standpoint ? If there is a 
City-Mind will it not make its readiest appeal at the same 
time when the individual mind is just awaking to the large- 
ness of life and beginning to view the city as the field of its 
operation and livelihood? 

I am not blind to the advantages which may accrue to 
some students when thrown upon their own resources away 
from home. I am not blind to the fine and inspiring tradi- 
tions which hang around some Universities and attract the 
eager youth thither. Nor am I blind to the increasing cost 
of building, equipping and maintaining with becoming finan- 
cial and cultural dignity an up-to-date University. Objec- 
tions one and two are not weighty enough to halt us, while 
objection three can be left cheerfully to the civic earnestness 
of each community which, when the need arises, can levy 
the necessary tax without ignoring the generosity and public 
spirit of its citizenship in such a crisis. The Universities 
will go henceforth where the people and the pupils are to be 
found. The people and the pupils are now in the cities. 

Herein lies our weakness. Hundreds of students are com- 
pelled to seek their College training away from home. They 
leave their cities at their most impressionable age of budding 
civic consciousness. The city loses touch with the students 
whom it has fostered ten or twelve years. Absence from it 
for the next four College years dulls the edge of city-appre- 
ciation. While the city is recalled for some sentimental 
reason, its civic possibility and duty do not loom large in the 
imagination and affection of the student. Absence does not 
make the civic heart grow fonder. The problems of his city 
do not constitute his problems. These students have lost in 
civic pride. From the years of eighteen to twenty-two the 
civic appetite has not been whetted. 

What would have been gained had opportunities for higher 
education been opened up in their home town? Let us not 
sneer at the financial advantages. With the increasing cost 
of living, the expense of University education is growing at 

31 



an equally rapid pace. It is fair to say that the cost of a 
University training away from home is practically twice as 
great as it would have been at home. Besides, the money 
spent at home for such an education would remain in the 
local coffers. It is fair to say that the cost for one year, 
including tuition, other fees, room and board and a few 
moderate pleasures would run from $500 to $1,000 at any 
first-class College. The figures of the Cincinnati University, 
however, reveal a constantly diminishing cost per student as 
the number of students increases. The annual cost to the 
municipality of Cincinnati for one student was in 1911 about 
$103. This school, then, of almost two thousand students 
has saved several hundred thousand dollars in the course of 
four years' training. The Cincinnatian, paying no tuition 
fee, living at home and spared many of the additional induce- 
ments and temptations, finds that his personal expenses for 
nine school months in a year have been practically cut in 
half. 

If it be alleged that the cost elsewhere is materially less- 
ened by the opportunities of self-help afforded students in 
the great Universities, it but presents additional argument 
to the increasing advantages of self-help which your own 
city-university may offer you. Here, again, the Cincinnati 
University's testimony is eloquent. Through its magnificent 
scheme of co-operation with the municipality's activities, 
channels of self-support become part of their educational 
endeavors. But aside from this, 59 per cent of all the stu- 
dents work during the year, while 67 per cent of the male 
students work during the vacation. Recent figures indicate 
that the percentage of students who have followed gainful 
occupations before coming to the college is 85.5. The out- 
standing fact is that 74 per cent of all the male students are 
working regularly during the year for part of their time, in- 
cluding the co-operative students, whose work is a part of 
their course. 

This question of self-help opens up the latest issues of 
vocational training. Shining shoes, barbering, waiting on 

32 



the table and similar kinds of unskilled labor by which stu- 
dents work their way through college are not calculated to 
reveal to them the wider avenues of vocational service. 
Again, vocational training does not belong to pupils of the 
elementary grades. Even boys and girls in the high schools 
scarcely know what line of activity will be congenial to them. 
But a University in a city is peculiarly and favorably con- 
ditioned to enter into such relationship with the activities of 
a city as to invite careers of usefulness to earnest students. 
Inasmuch as you have enjoyed the presence and advice of 
Dr. Charles William Dabney you have learnt from him of 
the numerous points of contact between the five Colleges 
composing the Cincinnati University and the various 
branches of the municipality's quickening life. Dr. Dabney 
has made the "co-operative method" so practical that it has 
been adopted by other Universities. Vocational Training is 
the natural outgrowth of this co-operative scheme. Each of 
the five colleges holds intimate relation with the Board of 
Health and its problems of meat, milk, water, sanitation and 
quarantine, with street, park and alley improvements, with 
school teachers and children, with slum, poverty, crime and 
social settlements, with factory and shop. Theoretical teach- 
ing goes hand in hand with practical training. A student is 
earning and learning at the same time. But what is in- 
finitely more, he is learning to know his city, its dark and its 
bright spots, its political graft and glory, its daily activities 
and its hourly needs. It is this close familiarity with his 
city during his College days which develops civic pride and 
civic honor. Thus, while the city serves the University, the 
University serves the City. The home-trained University 
student finds his city growing up under his own eyes. He 
is best prepared to give it loyal service. 

Our statements have not taken into consideration the 
thousands of earnest young men and young women who 
cannot afford to leave home for advanced courses. Has the 
city no duty to them? Shall not Democracy stand for 
equality of opportunity ? Shall the desire to drink from the 

33 



founts of liberal culture be stifled or denied them because the 
support of their parents or of themselves is their paramount 
obligation? Granted that these students desire only two 
years of advanced studies, ought not day or night courses be 
open to them? Here, again, the example of the Cincinnati 
University becomes classical. Seventy-seven per cent of its 
student body comes from parents who were denied higher 
education. Or, looking at it from another point of view, 
''The University is holding the door of opportunity open to 
at least 1,100 students who would not be able to get a higher 
education if it did not exist. All the facts go to show that 
Cincinnati students come from the modest homes of people 
of limited means, representing the thrift and substance of 
the city's population." If we would have the City-Mind 
properly activized, poverty should never become an excuse 
or a cause for its weakness or failure. 

Let me direct your attention to another consideration. Not 
only are the favored Universities more costly, but they are 
over-crowded and are becoming unwieldly. Of necessity a 
selective process is pursued under an increasingly more rigid 
entrance examination which makes admission to them the 
more difficult. I am not advocating a lowering of standards, 
but I am trying to indicate how a Municipal University may 
co-ordinate its High School courses with University demands 
so as to make the educational chain continuous, and how it 
may give cultural privileges to those who are not striving 
for academic degrees. 

The complexity of our municipal life is a challenge to 
specialism. The city is calling for experts. There is scarcely 
a phase of municipal administration, finance, food, hygiene, 
education, philanthropy, health, building, streets, which does 
not invite the expert. Whence do these men come? They 
are, doubtless, University graduates who have been invited 
there by big industries or city authorities. Why should the 
city not train its own servants as its experts ? A City Uni- 
versity in closest touch with civic administration becomes a 

34 



Bureau of Municipal Research. Each department of the 
City University will become a laboratory for the city. 

The University must become a dynamo of moral energy. 
The nation is witnessing a remarkable ethical awakening. 
On all sides we hear the call for righteous leadership. We 
never before were so keen on idealism, vision, conscienceful 
politics as we are today. We never before were so ashamed 
of the brazen corruption in municipalities. The rising edu- 
cational standards go hand in hand with the demand for the 
moralization of the ballot, of capital, of labor, of civic office. 
Has the University no credit for this splendid moral rein- 
forcement ? Have the people not been stirred by the leader- 
ship which caught the flame of enthusiasm and idealism from 
the altars of Alma Maters? If the recent ideals of civic 
leadership as incarnated in Theodore Roosevelt, William H. 
Taft and Woodrow Wilson bring glory to Harvard, Yale 
and Princeton, is not a rainbow of brilliant promise and re- 
sponsibility thrown upon all the institutions of higher learn- 
ing? Who can estimate the myriad rays of moral stimulus 
and civic enthusiasm which, having emanated from them, are 
slowly breaking through the walls of compact institutional- 
ism and percolating down to the humblest inhabitant of our 
land? 

There is no clash between the University-Mind and the 
City-Mind ! The University-Mind is essentially one of in- 
quiry, of freedom, of search for the truth and of devotion 
to it. No longer glorying in its classic aloofness or un- 
democratic isolation, the University stands today as the 
citadel of learning for the sake of the largest and fullest life. 
It holds the triumphs of the intellect, the visions of the seers, 
the glories of the humanities, the excellencies of the spirit in 
trust for the people. Its ideal is consecrated service. The 
University is morally committed to practical idealism. Is 
not the City-Mind more than a gloating over its materialism 
of street and store, of architecture and administration? Is 
it not more than a clash of men and ideas ? Is it not the atti- 
tude of loyal service to the citizens thereof, and of conse- 

35 



crated duty of the citizens to the city they inhabit ? Do not 
the ideals of both city and University supplement and com- 
plement each other ? 

See, then, what it will mean to a city to be blessed with 
the moral reservoir of its own University ! 

A City University will develop its own cultural type. It 
will train its own preachers of righteousness, haters of fraud, 
defenders of the poor, blazers of new paths in municipal acti- 
vity. A municipal University will be the city's greatest asset. 
What a new charm it will add to the attractions of a com- 
munity ! What new streams of culture will flow into muni- 
cipal chanels ! A city begets a new distinction when it 
flowers into a University. It will seem like some towering 
pyramid of inspiration built upon the solid and expansive 
mass of the common people. Around it children will crowd 
with their ambitions to climb to the top. Out of it will come 
the poorer no less than the wealthier to enter again the arena 
of life. Out of it will come the trained engineer, teacher, 
lawyer, physician, social worker, all lovers of, and workers 
for, their city. It will stand as a watch-tower in times of 
distress. Its influence will soften the harshness of com- 
mercialism. Its attractions will draw to it men and women 
of light and leading. Your factories will do better work, 
your industries will be examples of efficiency. The Univer- 
sity Spirit will lave the community as with a baptism of 
hallowed service. The City-Mind will grow up to the Uni- 
versity. The University-Mind will go out to the city. Am 
I wrong, then, in my advocacy of a Municipal University 
as the most logical and progressive step in the education of 
the future, the education of, and in, a city for the benefit of 
the nation ? 



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